Lionel Messi’s position in the latest 2026 Ballon d’Or power rankings has attracted attention as the race enters its final days. Harry Kane leads the list ahead of Lamine Yamal and Rodri, while the eight-time winner remains among the top five contenders.
2026 Ballon d’Or Rankings Revealed as Lionel Messi’s Position Surprises Fans
The race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or is entering its final days, with Lionel Messi, Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe among the biggest names competing for football’s most prestigious individual award.
With the ceremony approaching, The Independent has published its latest ranking of the ten leading candidates.
Harry Kane leads the list following an incredible season with Bayern Munich, while Lamine Yamal and Rodri are close behind after helping Spain win the 2026 World Cup.
However, one of the most interesting details is the position of Lionel Messi.
Despite scoring eight goals at the World Cup and helping Argentina reach the final, the 39-year-old superstar sits fifth in the newspaper’s latest ranking.
The ranking is an opinion-based assessment from The Independent, not the official Ballon d’Or result.
When will the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner be announced?
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on October 26 at the London Palladium in England.
The winner will be selected by a panel of 100 journalists representing the top 100 nations in the FIFA rankings.
Voting is based on three main factors: individual performances, team achievements and fair play.
The official assessment period runs from August 3, 2025, to July 19, 2026, including the World Cup.
That makes the 2026 World Cup one of the most important factors in this year’s race, alongside performances during the 2025/26 club season.
Top 10 contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or
1. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England)
Harry Kane leads The Independent’s latest ranking after delivering one of the best seasons of his career.
The England captain scored an incredible 61 goals in 51 appearances across all competitions during the 2025/26 campaign.
His goals helped Bayern Munich win the German league and domestic cup.
At the 2026 World Cup, Kane scored six times as England secured their best finish at the tournament since 1966.
His outstanding goalscoring record and success with Bayern make him one of the strongest candidates for the award.
2. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
Lamine Yamal is considered one of Kane’s biggest rivals in the race.
The Barcelona youngster scored 24 goals and provided 18 assists during the 2025/26 season.
He also played an important role in Spain’s World Cup victory, becoming a world champion at just 19 years old.
Yamal has continued to impress with his creativity, dribbling and ability to decide important matches.
His combination of club success and World Cup glory gives him a strong chance of winning his first Ballon d’Or.
3. Rodri (Barcelona, Spain)
Rodri has returned to the highest level after struggling with injuries.
The Spanish midfielder played an important role in his country’s World Cup triumph, controlling matches and helping Spain dominate possession.
His performances earned him the Golden Ball as the best player at the tournament.
Although injuries affected his club season, his influence during the World Cup has strengthened his position among the leading candidates.
Having already won the Ballon d’Or in 2024, Rodri is now hoping to claim the award for a second time.
4. Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid, France)
Kylian Mbappe enjoyed another remarkable goalscoring season despite Real Madrid failing to win a major trophy.
The French forward scored 42 goals in 44 appearances for the Spanish giants during the 2025/26 campaign.
He also delivered an extraordinary performance at the World Cup, scoring ten goals and winning the Golden Boot.
That achievement made him the highest goalscorer in World Cup history.
However, France’s failure to win the tournament and Madrid’s disappointing season could make his first Ballon d’Or difficult to achieve.
5. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina)
Lionel Messi’s position is one of the biggest talking points in the latest 2026 Ballon d’Or rankings.
At 39 years old, the Argentine legend remains among the world’s leading candidates despite playing outside Europe’s top leagues.
Messi scored eight goals at the 2026 World Cup, helping Argentina reach another final.
His performances showed that he could still make a huge difference on the biggest international stage.
However, Argentina eventually lost to Spain, ending Messi’s hopes of winning another World Cup title.
The Independent believes his World Cup performances are the main reason he remains in the Ballon d’Or conversation.
Although Messi has already won the award a record eight times, he still faces strong competition in his attempt to claim a ninth trophy.
Another important detail is that David Beckham has publicly supported Messi’s chances after his performances for Inter Miami.
But competing against stars who enjoyed major success in European football remains a significant challenge.
Even so, Messi’s place among the top five at the age of 39 is another remarkable achievement in his extraordinary career.
6. Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain, France)
Ousmane Dembele is hoping to defend the Ballon d’Or title he won in 2025.
The French winger enjoyed another successful campaign with Paris Saint-Germain, helping the club win Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
However, France failed to reach the World Cup final, which could affect his chances of winning again.
His goalscoring numbers were also lower than during his previous award-winning season.
Despite those challenges, Dembele’s major trophies keep him among the top ten candidates.
7. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)
Jude Bellingham remains one of England’s most important players following an impressive World Cup campaign.
The Real Madrid midfielder helped his country finish third at the tournament.
However, injuries affected his 2025/26 club season, limiting his attacking contributions.
Real Madrid’s failure to win major silverware also makes his chances more difficult.
Nevertheless, Bellingham’s influence for England has helped him maintain a place among the leading candidates.
8. Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
Erling Haaland continues to be one of the most dangerous goalscorers in world football.
The Manchester City striker scored 38 goals during the 2025/26 season.
He also helped Norway reach the World Cup quarter-finals, delivering several impressive performances along the way.
However, The Independent suggests that Manchester City’s financial controversy could affect how some voters view his achievements.
His incredible goalscoring record remains one of his biggest strengths in the Ballon d’Or race.
9. Michael Olise (Bayern Munich, France)
Michael Olise has established himself as one of Europe’s most exciting attacking players.
The Bayern Munich star has impressed with his creativity, passing and ability to produce important goals.
His performances for France at the World Cup also increased his reputation on the international stage.
Although he is not considered one of the main favourites this year, his progress has been remarkable.
Olise’s place in the top ten shows how quickly he has developed into one of the world’s best attacking players.
10. Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona, Spain)
Pau Cubarsi completes The Independent’s top ten after an impressive year for Barcelona and Spain.
Despite being just 19 years old, the defender has already become an important player for both teams.
He helped Spain win the 2026 World Cup and received the tournament’s Young Player award.
His strong defending, excellent passing and ability to remain calm under pressure have earned him widespread praise.
Although winning the Ballon d’Or may be difficult this year, Cubarsi is already considered one of football’s brightest young defenders.
Can Lionel Messi still win his ninth Ballon d’Or?
Messi’s fifth-place position may surprise supporters who expected his World Cup performances to place him even higher.
After all, scoring eight goals and reaching the final at 39 years old is an extraordinary achievement.
However, this year’s competition is particularly strong.
Kane has an incredible goalscoring record, Yamal and Rodri helped Spain become world champions, while Mbappe produced historic numbers at the World Cup.
Messi remains a serious name in the discussion, but winning his ninth Ballon d’Or would be another remarkable achievement.
It is also important to remember that The Independent’s ranking does not represent the official voting results.
Who will win the 2026 Ballon d’Or?
With the ceremony only days away, Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Rodri appear to be among the strongest candidates in The Independent’s assessment.
Mbappe’s incredible goalscoring numbers and Messi’s impressive World Cup performances have also kept them in the discussion.
Each player has a different reason to believe he deserves football’s most prestigious individual prize.
But the final decision will come from the official journalists’ vote, not from media rankings or predictions.
The winner will be revealed in London on October 26.
And with Lionel Messi still among the top five contenders at the age of 39, the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or has one more fascinating story before football’s biggest individual award is handed out.
